PMD releases enhanced version of its Pro-Motion® software with new axis wizard, digital amplifier support, and embedded motion development support.

Performance Motion Devices, Inc. (PMD) announces a major new release of its Pro-Motion® software for Windows-based environments. Pro-Motion 5.0 adds a number of key capabilities including an upgraded axis setup wizard, support for SPI-based motion amplifiers including PMD's ATLAS® digital amplifier products, and support for all-in-one embedded motion cards and systems.

The most significant new feature in Pro-Motion 5.0 is the addition of a graphical Axis Wizard facility that provides step-by-step configuration of all control signal parameters including quadrature feedback, motion output signals, home signals, Hall sensor signals, analog input and output, and more. The new axis wizard performs automated tests to characterize connection and configuration information. Users can then accept these automatic parameters or provide their own values. Additional features include current loop and position loop auto-tuning, and system configuration storage.

Another major new feature is support for SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)-based solderable motion amplifiers. These amplifiers, which include PMD's ATLAS line of digital amplifiers, are used in embedded motion applications where the motion processor IC and motion amplifier are co-located on the same card. Step motor, DC Brush, and Brushless DC motors are supported, as are manual or automatic tuning of amplifier gain parameters, temperature monitoring, and I2t current tuning.

Embedded motion software development is supported via a command window along with a simple scripting facility to program sequences of commands. Features of the command line processor include command-auto-completion and virtualization of the axis interface to allow communication to local as well a...

Embedded motion software development is supported via a command window along with a simple scripting facility to program sequences of commands. Features of the command line processor include command-auto-completion and virtualization of the axis interface to allow communication to local as well as remotely located axes. Additional features include a console window that provides printf style outputs from the embedded motion code, and a monitor window that allows motion command traffic to and from the motion processor to be viewed and analyzed.

Additional Pro-Motion features include the ability to run on Windows 32 and Windows 64 operating systems, programmable control windows, position monitoring, up to four simultaneous trace variables, and programmable interpretation for signals such as limit switches, home signals, quadrature feedback signals, and more.

Additional Information on Performance Motion Devices (PMD)
PMD provides motion control ICs, cards, and drive modules for use in positioning motion applications as well as torque and velocity control applications. All PMD products provide high performance motion control supporting DC brush, brushless DC, step, and microstepping motors.